Alexandria Historic Cemeteries District

We’d like to thank Livy Simpson for sharing these precious family memories with us. We have also included the “official” notes that accompany it.

Part of this Alexandria collection includes three items on Col. James Tubb’s Smith Fork house—a 1964 handwritten description based on an interview with the owner, and a front-view B&W snapshot. .

The “Gilleylen Letter” set (three items) centers on H. S. Gilleylen of Monroe County, who attended school in Alexandria in 1868 and visited his Tubb relatives; in 1930 he reminisced in both a newspaper article and a letter. These files comprise an annotation identifying people named in the letter and describing Alexandria as of the 1868 visit, a copy of the letter, and a clipped image of the article “Should Pray for Rain,” Memphis Commercial Appeal, 17 July 1930, p. 6, col. 6.

The “H. Lester Simpson House” group features photos and a clipping related to the Alexandria home of Horace Lester Simpson, Sr. (1884–1963), and Livy (Tubb) Simpson (1888–1963), who married in October 1913 and lived there until late 1919. Lester, born in Brush Creek, Smith County, was the son of Lewis Ellison “Luke” Simpson (1841–1929) and Nancy Jett Dowell (1846–1885); Livy, born in Alexandria, was the daughter of Livingston Tubb (1853–1925) and Maggie Eason Bethel (1859–1920). Included are three B&W photos of the Locust Street house (likely 1913–1919), a “Entertain for Graduates” news item noting the address.

The “Livingston ‘Liv’ Tubb House” holds an interior family portrait—Hilda (seated), Mildred, Livingston (seated adult male), Inez, Livy, Paul, and Maggie (seated adult female)—likely taken between 1900 and early 1904; scanned from a reprint, with the original retained), an exterior circa-1900 view; the 1910 census lists the location on the Lebanon & Smithville Road; the family moved to Nashville around 1919), a mid-century B&W snapshot taken after the move. A final item is a hand-drawn map by Tommy Webb depicting Hannah’s Branch and Smith Fork and the farm locations of the Tubb, Reynolds, and Stokes families.

Aberdeen, Mississippi.

September 6th, 1930.

Mrs. Pattie Bethel McMillan[1],

Alexandria, Tennessee

Dear Madam: –

I am just in receipt of yours of the 4th instant, calling my attention to an article I wrote for the Commercial Appeal[2] in July last, and in which I referred to attending school when a boy in Alexandria and spending the summer with my Tubb relatives on Smith Fork.

It was in the spring of 1868. The school building was a large frame just on the South side of the main street as you enter the town. It had one main hall or room in which nearly all the students sat in the open on benches. Professor Philips was then the Principal and had charge of the main body of the school. The North end was cut off by a partition and Professor Doss had charge of this department. It was a mixed school but the girls occupied the small part as I recollect. There was another minor professor whose name I do not recall. Dr. Toney Tubb[3] lived on the main street in a two story house farther down the street from the school and just West of the Christian Church. His office was just East of his house immediately fronting the street. This was the headquarters for the boys to meet on Sunday afternoon. My mother Sarah Tubb was the daughter of Abraham Tubb[4] and Mary Lancaster Tubb. She was therefore a cousin of the Tubbs up there.

I attended the Methodist Sunday School located on the hill North of the main street and on the street running North and South crossing the main street where then was located Lincoln’s Drygoods Store on the corner just South of main street. Dr. Meur’s office was still East of the Lincoln store. The Post Office was in a store farther East of main street. The mail was carried by a stage from Nashville on the Pike and signalled its approach by the blowing of a bugle and it came in about 8 o’clock at night and on the sound of the bugle the people went to the Post Office, filling the store, and stood as the names were called and the letters were delivered.

Dr. Tubb was then living. I remember his son Livingston[5] and when his daughter some years ago visited a relative in this County I met her. I wonder if her father is still living? He also attended this school and had two main friends Tubestokes and a young fellow named Britton. They were always seen together.

After school closed for the spring session I went out on Smith Fork and remained with my relatives during the summer. Col. Tubb lived during his life in a nice frame house on an elevation East of this creek but he was dead and his two widowed daughters Mrs. Helen Surer[6] who married a German doctor who was then dead and whose children Miss. Josiephine[7] and three sons Henry, Charlie, and Miller were living with her and her sister Mrs. Knight[8]. While I was at the University of Virginia attending law in 1885 I received a letter stating that Charlie had died[9]. As I remember Miss Josiephine was about a grown young woman then and to me a very fascinating and attractive young woman. I wonder what has become of Miss Josiephine and her brothers. A son-in-law of Col. Tubb, Mr. Mat Simpson[10] and his wife Narcissus lived a mile South from the Col. Residence and they had a large family of young men and boys and one daughter who was then teaching a small country school. I stayed some with these good people while there.

   Thomas Ashworth[11] another son-in-law and his wife and son James lived in a hollow East of the Colonel’s home and I spend a week with them during that summer. They made cider from the cider apple in the usual way then and this was a fine soft drink.

   There were other Tubb relations on Smith Fork still farther up Rube and Jack Tubb who after visited their relatives here and I met them on the occasion and paid them marked attention during their stay. I wonder if they are still living?

   I was very glad to receive your letter and am writing you in detail for your information.

   You know that Lebanon is a great school center and I sent two of my boys to Castle Heights some years and one for a part of a session to Cumberland in the law department.

   Lebanon at the time I was there was the relay for the stage and I never hear the sound of the bugle without being reminded of my short stay in Alexandria way back in that year.

   Thanking you for your letter I am.,

      Yours truly,

      H. S. Gilleylen[12] [signed}

---

[1] Pattie Maud Bethel McMillan (1871-1942) was the daughter of Bluford Jordan Bethel (1830-ca 1882) and Sarah Jane Eason (1838-1920). In 1890 she married Dr. Samuel McMillan (1864-1924) who was a doctor in Alexandia. Her sister Maggie Eason Bethel (159-1920) married Livingston Tubb (1853-1925).

[2] “Should Pray for Rain,” Memphis Commercial Appeal 17 July 1930, p. 6, col. 6. Pattie probably learned of the article from her sister Ida (Bethel) Groomes who lived in Memphis

[3] Eliel Tubb (1830-1878) was the son of Col. James Tubb (1788-1867) and Elizabeth “Betsy” Reynolds (1792-1845). Some records show his middle name as Tone hence the reference to “Toney”. He purchased an Alexandria town lot on the Lebanon & Sparta turnpike from James P. Doss in 1865.

[4] Abraham Tubb (1792-1864) and Mary (Lancaster) Tubb (1796-1854) movd to Monroe Co., Miss. Abraham was the brother of Col. James Tubb.

[5] Livingston Tubb (1853-1925) was the son of Eliel Tubb and Martha Ann Brien (1829-1870).

[6] The surname is Schurer. Helen Tubb (1823-1887) was the daughter of James and Betsy Tubb. She married Dr. Charles J. J. Schurer (1816-1859) around 1847. Schurer was born in Wurzberg, Bayern, Germany. He practiced medicine in Smithville and Eliel Tubb studied with him.

[7] Josephine (1848-1922) not Josiephine. She married Oscar Pendeleton Hill (1847-1925).

[8] Someone crossed out Knight but it may not have been the letter’s author. Helen’s widowed sister was not Mrs. Knight; it was her sister Caroline Tubb (1828-1880) whoa married Leonard D. Fite (1818-1858) in 1849.

[9] Charles Monroe Schurer (1852-1885), the son of Helen (Tubb) Schurer.

[10] Matthew Simpson (1809-1874) and Narcisssa Tubb (1814-1872).

[11] Thomas Ashworth (1810-1875) and Julia Tubb (1820-1878) are buried in Kaufman Co., Texas.

[12] Find a Grave memorial 121724126.  Houston Shields Gillelyen, Sr. (1853-1931) buried in Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery, Aberdeen, Monroe Co., Miss.